Monas deer population explodes

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city has become so crowded that even the deer in the National Monument Park in Central Jakarta are apparently having trouble finding a little elbowroom, or is that "hoof room".

The population of spotted deer in the park has soared to 87, from 12 does and bucks released by Governor Sutiyoso two years ago.

"The ideal population density in the deer zone, as recommended by experts from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, is 50," said Sri Mulyono, the head of Ragunan Zoo, which is responsible for the health and care of Monas' deer.

Overpopulation could spell trouble for the deer, because it would mean food shortages and a lack of space to roam freely.

Sri said he had recommended that some of the deer be moved to the zoo, but had yet to receive a response from the governor.

Sutiyoso is in South Africa and will return on Dec. 3.

"Some mayors in Jakarta have also expressed interest in releasing some of the deer in other parks across the capital, but we do not think this is a good idea because I doubt the deer would be properly looked after," Sri said.

He said spotted deer were sensitive creatures that did not react well to noise and pollution.

Sutiyoso set aside five hectares of land within the 100- hectare Monas park to create a "deer zone" in 2003, ignoring critics who said the deer would not be able to survive in the heart of the bustling and noisy capital.

The deer released in Monas came from the grounds of the National Intelligence Agency headquarters, the governor's house in Cibubur, East Jakarta, and from private donors.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated the deer zone on June 5, 2003. One deer died before the ceremony but was immediately replaced.

According to Sri, each deer is valued at Rp 10 million.